Headlines

On Thursday, SiriusXM reported Q4 2016 revenue and revenue for the full year. Q4 revenue was a record $1.3 billion, up 9% over 2015, and for the full year revenue was $5.0 billion, up 10% over 2015.

Thursday, Feb. 9 is the deadline to enter the prestigious 2017 Edward R. Murrow Awards. Early bird rates end Friday, February 3, after which the full rate will apply. The entry prices shown online will switch over to the full rate after Friday.

Lars Larson of Alpha's FM News 101 KXL in Portland was the first Skype caller to ask a question during a White House briefing. When President Trump took over, The White House said four reporters would be chosen for “Skype Seats,” aimed at allowing hosts outside Washington to participate in the briefings. Last night, we spoke to Larson about the call.

Even the U.S. government gets hacked these days, so it's not inconceivable that your station might somehow be hacked. Just ask Lake Keowee Broadcasting President Frank Patterson. His station in Salem, SC was hacked and an obscene song about the President was played for 20 minutes. If this happens to you, and a listener complains, are you liable? We turn to Broadcast Attorney John Garziglia for the answer.

The Radio One Compensation Committee agreed to pay out bonuses to several Radio One executives for their performance in 2016. CEO Alfred Liggins will receive $1.25 million and founder Cathy Hughes receives $500,000, which represents a 100% payout of their bonus potential. Who else did and didn't get bonuses?

The Academy of Country Music has announced the full list of Radio Awards nominees for the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards. Radio Award nominees will not be televised due to time constraints in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 2. The awards will be presented during an ACM Party for a Cause event at The Joint on Saturday, April 1 in Vegas. Here are the nominees...

The lineup includes Zac Brown Band, Lady Antebellum, Trace Adkins, Crystal Gayle, LOCASH, Cam, Michael Ray, Chris Lane, Carly Pearce, and Dailey & Vincent. The show will be held on Feb. 22, starting 7 p.m.

Sports station WCLY-AM in Raleigh will also be heard on 95.7 and rebranded "95.7 The Ticket." Capitol GM of Sports Radio Brian Maloney said, “We're in the business of providing sports content to our listeners and we deliver the content on numerous platforms. The addition of The Ticket on 95.7 FM fits perfectly with our other FM sports talk properties and digital initiatives."

(By Ronald Robinson) Radio has yet to acknowledge or appreciate that superior forms of communicating to audiences – both for on-air and in the writing of copy – exist and are readily available. And when I say superior, I mean more listenable, more appealing, and more effective.

Wisconsin will be home to a new liberal-leaning radio station starting today. Devil’s Advocate Radio is buying WRRD-AM (1510) from Craig Karmazin's Good Karma Broadcasting. Devil's Advocate Radio is owned by college roommates Dominic Salvia and Michael Crute, who also host a show which will be part of the new lineup.